Combined display and ballot receptacle



Oct. 12, 1965 c. IF. DRADDY ETAL COMBINED DISPLAY AND BALLOT RECEPTACLE Filed Nov. 4, 1963 n I I I I I I l United States Patent O 3,211,366 COMBINED DISPLAY AND BALLOT RECEPTACLE Cyril Francis Draddy, 32 Papermill Road, Plandome Manor, N.Y., and Martin Landis, 67-38 108th St., Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 321,141 2 Claims. (Cl. 232-2) The present invention relates generally to display devices, and in particular to a combined display and ballot receptacle.

In connection with the running of contests, it has been customary to provide ballot boxes in association with various display posters which usually have a supply of ballots secured thereto. Similar displays are also used for running a variety of tests and in diverse situations where an individual is required to supply information by means of a ballot or slip of paper and deposit the same into a ballot receptacle. A serious disadvantage in these conventional display poster and ballot box arrangements has been occasioned by difiiculty encountered in expeditiously returning the ballots to their central point of destination. This was due to the fact that it was often necessary to employ individuals to collect the ballots or provide instruction at the balloting stations to remove the ballots from the ballot boxes for forwarding to a given destination. Thus, it was necessary for some individual to handle the ballots in the course of their collection. In accordance with the present combined display and ballot receptacle it is possible to meet the requirements of a simple and effective device for collecting ballot blanks, yet allowing for forwarding of the same to a given central destination with a minimum amount of handling. In addition to meeting the requirements of adaptability and the ability to achieve the intended function, it is equally important that the units be relatively compact and capable of manufacture by mass production techniques at a relatively low unit cost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel combined display and ballot receptacle of the aforesaid character, incorporating one or more of the above-mentioned desirable features. More particularly, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide novel attachment means for mounting the envelope on the display panel and with the facility for removing the envelope such that the fastening means may thereafter be employed to close the envelope.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel slot in the panel member which includes a strikeout flap on the upper edge of the slot which serves to keep the envelope open and form a chute at the mouth of the slot for receiving ballots.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel clasp arrangement mounted on the display panel for holding the rear side of the ballot envelope flush against the rear side of the panel. Thus when a 7 large number of ballots have been deposited in the enve lope the clasp arrangement serves to maintain the open end of the envelope in alignment with the slot. The added weight of the ballots would otherwise cause the ballot envelope to sag thereby allowing the open end of the envelope to separate from the slot.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating these and other features of the present invention, there is provided a combined display and ballot receptacle including a panel member having front and rear surfaces and a slot formed therethrough. An envelope having an open end is adapted to be detachably secured to the panel member with the open end substantially overlying the slot for receiving ballot blanks deposited therethrough. Releasably engaging the panel member is attachment means located on the envelope contiguous with its open end for detachably securing the envelope to the panel member. The attachment means serves to close the open end of the envelope when detached from the panel member. The panel member also has means thereon for holding the rear surface of the ballot envelope against the rear surface of the panel member.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined display and ballot receptacle incorporating the present invention, wherein the ballot receptacle or ballot envelope is shown in a position for being secured to the display arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing the ballot envelope secured to the display arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and showing ballots being passed through the chute, formed in the display arrangement, into the ballot envelope;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view showing the means for holding the ballot envelope flush against the panel member;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ballot envelope, removed from display arrangement for being forwarded via mail- FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, of a modified combined display and ballot receptacle in accordance with the present invention wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive is used to detachably secure the ballot envelope to the display arrangement, and the means for maintaining the ballot envelope flush against the panel are shown progressively in broken-line view as they are brought into position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a combined display and ballot receptacle made in accordance with the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The display and ballot receptacle 10 includes an upright poster or easel back 12 and a ballot receptacle or mailing envelope 14, initially serving as a ballot receptacle and detachably secured to the easel back 12 by attachment means 16.

It is within the contemplation of the present invention to utilize any conventional type of easel back by which a flat object may be made to stand upright or suitably inclined. In accordance with the type of easel back 12 chosen herein for purposes of illustration, a panel member 18 is maintained in a suitable upright or inclined position by means of a prop 20 which includes two tabs 22 which are pulled out at an angle with respect to the panel member 18. As an alternative, it is possible to use the conventional artist-type of easel wherein the prop would consist of horizontally hinged struts as opposed to the vertically hinged tabs 22 shown herein, and it Would also be necessary to provide a rope or chain secured to the struts and easel back for maintaining such struts in a proper fixed position. Thus, the easel back 12 is capable of supporting a pictorial representation or poster, mounted on the panel member 18, in an upright position at a desired angle with respect to a horizontal surface.

The panel member 18 is preferably formed of cardboard material or the like, and includes a front surface 24 for mounting the pictorial display and a rear surface 26 at which the envelope 14 is secured, substantially coextensive with an opening 28 which is disposed in the panel member 18 for this purpose, as will later be described herein. As best seen in FIG. 1, an elongated slot or ballot window opening 36 through which the J ballots B are deposited, is also disposed in the panel member 18.

For the ballot receptacle 14 it is contemplated to utilize the conventional elongated type envelope which includes a closure flap 32 and attachment means 16 located at the rear face of the envelope 14, contiguous to its open end or mouth 34.

One form of the attachment means 16 illustrated herein utilizes the conventional separable fastener clasp 36 which is usually provided with larger types of mailing envelopes. Thus, the fastener clasp 36 includes a pair of spaced-apart fastening fingers 37 which extend radially from a mounting yoke 39 secured to the rear face of the envelope 14. Since the fastening fingers 37 are formed of a relatively light gauge, bendable type of metal, it is possible for the fastening fingers 37 to be spread apart and together, so that the fingers 37 can be pivoted about the mounting yoke 39. It is preferable to provide a closure opening 40 on the closure flap 32 which is located in a position coextensive with the mounting yoke 39 when the closure flap 32 is folded over the rear face of the envelope 14. However, it is possible to dispense with the closure opening 40 and merely insert the sharp leading edges of the fastening fingers 37 through the material of the closure flap 32.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the fastening means includes a pressure sensitive adhesive 38 which is preferably disposed on the rear face of the mailing envelope 14. Alternatively, it is possible to deposit the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 on the rear surface 26 of the panel member 18 in a position below the ballot window opening 30. Utilizing the latter arrangement the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 would be used to secure the envelope 14 to the panel member 18 and it would be necessary to provide glue or other fastening means on the closure flap 32 for securing the same for mailing. As a further alternative it is possible to deposit the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 on both the mailing envelope 14 and the rear surface 26 of the panel member 18 thereby obtaining even greater adhesion. Thus, it is apparent that the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 serves to detachably secure the mailing envelope 14 to the panel member 18 and to close the open end 34 when it is detached from the panel member 18.

To achieve the ballot receptacle function in connection with the mailing envelope 14, the attachment means 16 on the envelope 14 releasably engage the panel member 18 for detachably securing the envelope 14 to the panel member 18 at the rear surface 26 with the open end 34 being coextensive with the slot 30 for receiving the ballot blanks B which are deposited therethrough from the front display surface 24. As shown in FIG. 1, it is a relatively easy task to insert the fastening fingers 37 through the opening 28 in the panel member 18, and the fastening fingers 37 which are initially perpendicularly disposed with respect to the rear face of the envelope 14 can then be spread apart to secure the envelope 14 at the rear surface 26 of panel member 18. If the mailing envelope 14 is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive 38, it is merely necessary to apply finger pressure againt the front of the mailing envelope 14 with the area of the envelope 14 containing the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 being positioned below the slot 30. Thus, the attachment means 16 serves a dual function, namely, to detachably secure the envelope 14 to the easel back 12 when the envelope 14 is serving as a ballot receptacle and to close the open end 34 of the envelope 14 when it is detached from the easel back 12 to serve as a mailing receptacle.

Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of an upper strike-out flap 42 which is integral with the panel member 18 and extends rearwardly from the upper periphery of the elongated slot 30 so as to contact the closure flap 32 and spread apart the envelope 14 in an open condition thereby forming a chute 44 for depositing the ballots B into the envelope 14 which serves as a ballot receptacle. The strikeout flap 42 is located along the upper horizontal edge of the ballot window opening 30. It is preferable to form the strikeout flap 42 when the ballot window opening 30 is formed in the panel member 18, by not completely piercing the material of the panel member 18 along the respective upper horizontal edge of the slot 30 so that a suitable hinging effect can be obtained. Thus, an upper hinge 46 is effectively formed at the upper horizontal edge of the elongated slot 30 with the hinge 46 being integral with the rear surface 26 of panel member 18 such that the strike-out fiap 42 can be pivoted rearwardly of the panel member 18.

The flap 42 includes a tip extension 43 which is formed on the leading edge of the flap as shown in FIG. 2. The tip extension 43 is located in the center portion of flap 42 so as to be in alignment with the closure opening 40 of ballot envelope 14 when the envelope is secured to the panel member 18. Accordingly, after securing the envelope 14 to the panel member 18 in the manner described herein, the strike-out flap 42 is pushed back so as to frame the ballot window opening 30 and hold the mouth 34 of the envelope 14 open for receiving the ballots B. This is accomplished by folding flap 42 backwardly so that the tip extension is inserted in the opening 40 of envelope closure flap 32. Thus, the flap 42 is capable of maintaining the envelope 14 in a spread apart or open condition thereby forming the chute 44 for depositing the ballots B into the envelope 14.

In order to hold the top edge of rear surface of the envelope 14 flush against the rear surface of the panel member 18 means in the form of clasp members 48 are mounted on the front face of panel member 18 such as by means of rivets 50. The clasps 48 are formed of thin strips of ductile metal which allow repeated bending without causing failure. It is preferable to provide at least two of the clasps 48 which are mounted on the panel member 18 to normally extend along the plane of the front surface of the panel member such that the clasp members 48 overlie the ballot window opening 30, as best seen in FIG. 1.

By progressively inspecting the positions of the clasp members 48 in the view shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the clasps 48 are bent inwardly, from their normal extended position, in the direction of the arrow toward the slot 30 and into the open end of the ballot envelope 14. In this manner the portion of the clasps 48 which normally overlie the slot 30 are brought into contact with the inner portion of the top edge of the rear surface of envelope 14 so as to hold the rear surface of the envelope flush against the rear surface of panel member 18.

After the ballot envelope 14 has been secured to the panel 18 with flap 42 in position to form the chute 44, it is relatively easy to bend the clasps 48 backwardly as described herein and best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. The combination with an envelope receptacle having an open end for receiving ballot blanks, of a panel mem ber having a rear surface, a front display surface and a slot formed therethrough, attachment means on said envelope at the rear face thereof adjacent the open end of said envelope for releasably engaging said panel member for detachably securing said envelope to said panel member at the rear surface thereof with said open end substantially coextensive with said slot for receiving ballot blanks which are deposited therethrough from said display surface, and said attachment means serving to close said open end of said envelope when said envelope is detached from said panel member, a closure member located at said open end of the envelope, a fiap means integral with said panel member and capable of extending rearwardly from the periphery of said slot so as to contact said closure member thereby spreading apart said envelope in an open condition and forming a chute for depositing said ballot blanks into said envelope, clasp means on said panel member for holding the top edge of the rear surface of said envelope against the rear surface of said panel member, said closure member having an opening therein, and said flap means having a portion thereof receivable in said closure member opening.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, and said clasp means including individual clasp members fixed to the front surface of said panel member and normally extending to overlie said slot such that said clasp members are capable of being folded inwardly toward said slot and into the open end of said envelope for holding the lateral References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,798 10/96 Norrington 229-85 1,456,133 5/23 Knight 2298.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 389,253 11/21 Germany. 423,813 2/35 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH AN ENVELOPE RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN END FOR RECEIVING BALLOT BLANKS, OF A PANEL MEMBER HAVING A REAR SURFACE, A FRONT DISPLAY SURFACE AND A SLOT FORMED THERETHROUGH, ATTACHMENT MEANS ON SAID ENVELOPE AT THE REAR FACE THEREOF ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID ENVELOPE FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID PANEL MEMBER FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID ENVELOPE TO SAID PANEL MEMBER AT THE REAR SURFACE THEREOF WITH SAID OPEN END SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID SLOT FOR RECEIVING BALLOT BLANKS WHICH ARE DEPOSITED THERETHROUGH FROM SAID DISPLAY SURFACE, AND SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS SERVING TO CLOSE SAID OPEN END OF SAID ENVELOPE WHEN SAID ENVELOPE IS DETACHED FROM SAID PANEL MEMBER, A CLOSURE MEMBER LOCATED AT SAID OPEN END OF THE ENVELOPE, A FLAP MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL MEMBER AND CAPABLE OF EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SLOT SO AS TO CONTACT SAID CLOSURE MEMBER THEREBY SPREADING APART SAID ENVELOPE IN AN OPEN CONDITION AND FORMING A CHUTE FOR DEPOSITION SAID BALLOT BLANKS INTO SAID ENVELOPE, CLASP MEANS ON SAID PANEL MEMBER FOR HOLDING THE TOP EDGE OF THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID ENVELOPE AGAINST THE RER SURFACE OF SAID PANEL MEMBER, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING AAN OPENING THEREIN, AND SAID FLAP MEANS HAVING A PORTION THEREOF RECEIVABLE IN SAID CLOSURE MEMBER OPENING 